*** OKC Thunder vs MN Timberwolves - 7pm FSN ***

[Jedzz]

Did Nowell play the full 4th q?

[winforlose]

So just to be clear, it’s okay to point out the flaws in Ant’s game now? Because every time I do I get an avalanche of angry excuses and denials.

[_AIJ_]

See? Finch held Edwards accountable. He should learn from this game. Hopefully

[Jedzz]

So just to be clear, it’s okay to point out the flaws in Ant’s game now? Because every time I do I get an avalanche of angry excuses and denials.

It was strangely feeling a bit more friendly around here for some of us, hearing people actually call him out for his hijinks for once. It's got to be a trap!

[UnFadeable21]

Jim Pete and Rebecca Brunson destroying the Wolves and Ant on the post game show.

Saying certain guys got benched tonight for lack of effort.

[UnFadeable21]

So just to be clear, it’s okay to point out the flaws in Ant’s game now? Because every time I do I get an avalanche of angry excuses and denials.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

He deserves it for tonight. He was pathetic in the 4th.

[winforlose]

So just to be clear, it’s okay to point out the flaws in Ant’s game now? Because every time I do I get an avalanche of angry excuses and denials.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

He deserves it for tonight. He was pathetic in the 4th.

No he was pathetic all night. He didn’t play any defense or score a single point in the first. Took way too many 3s. Wasn’t attacking, wasn’t finishing at the rim, bitching at the refs, not boxing out, I could go on.

[UnFadeable21]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[UnFadeable21]

Anthony Edwards with a team-worst +/- of -17 tonight

He was horrible. Worst I seen all year and rightfully benched if Finch is for real about keeping people accountable for their level of effort.

I like ANT and want him to succeed because he plays for my favorite team but he was literally **** around and not giving a ****. It was embarrassing

[shrink]

Jim Pete and Rebecca Brunson destroying the Wolves and Ant on the post game show.

Saying certain guys got benched tonight for lack of effort.

I didn’t see the game, but if this is true, I would be thrilled.

I understand that after Thibs totalitarian regime, Saunders was probably needed to get most of the players to not hate basketball in Minnesota. But later, it felt to me that keeping people happy was superseding holding people accountable. If Finch is willing to bench Ant, that’s a good sign, and hopefully no player on the team is immune, if he doesn’t show enough effort. We have lots of young hungry kids on the bench that need minutes, and I’d like our established players to know that they need to earn their playing time.

[winforlose]

Jim Pete and Rebecca Brunson destroying the Wolves and Ant on the post game show.

Saying certain guys got benched tonight for lack of effort.

I didn’t see the game, but if this is true, I would be thrilled.

I understand that after Thibs totalitarian regime, Saunders was probably needed to get most of the players to not hate basketball in Minnesota. But later, it felt to me that keeping people happy was superseding holding people accountable. If Finch is willing to bench Ant, that’s a good sign, and hopefully no player on the team is immune, if he doesn’t show enough effort. We have lots of young hungry kids on the bench that need minutes, and I’d like our established players to know that they need to earn their playing time.

Now your singing my song. Accountability matters.

[UnFadeable21]

Jim Pete and Rebecca Brunson destroying the Wolves and Ant on the post game show.

Saying certain guys got benched tonight for lack of effort.

I didn’t see the game, but if this is true, I would be thrilled.

I understand that after Thibs totalitarian regime, Saunders was probably needed to get most of the players to not hate basketball in Minnesota. But later, it felt to me that keeping people happy was superseding holding people accountable. If Finch is willing to bench Ant, that’s a good sign, and hopefully no player on the team is immune, if he doesn’t show enough effort. We have lots of young hungry kids on the bench that need minutes, and I’d like our established players to know that they need to earn their playing time.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Ant was way pissed post game but even the fans who watched the game knows he was pure crap tonight and deserved to ride the pine

[_AIJ_]

That play where he did not box out and resulting to a Thunder score was the icing for me. That was pure laziness.

[jpatrick]

I just don’t know what he’s doing on the defensive end. I’m not sure if he doesn’t understand what they’re doing conceptually or he just doesn’t care and is lazy. He almost floats around not guarding anyone then will close out wildly, allowing the man to blow right by him.

[ChiefKeith91]

Vanterpool has one job tomorrow! Ant needs to do a half practice of closing out and not jumping then practice not losing his man when helping.

I agree with the idea of resting KAT wrist for the rest of next 4 (Dal, Hou 2x, & BKN) and return at home vs NYK. If Beasley is still here he gets to play 2 games with Ant as primary options then KAT and DLo come back at the same time.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[Calinks]

Edwards is the reason why so mayn coaches hardly play rookies. It's way easier to make them earn playing time by doing the right things than it is to retroactively punish them after they have had free reign for so long by sitting them. Now maybe he gets pissed off and salty about being benched but that wouldn't have been an issue if he was held to a higher standard from day 1.

I get that number 1 picks need to play but I think they gave him too much freedom too fast.

[winforlose]

Edwards is the reason why so mayn coaches hardly play rookies. It's way easier to make them earn playing time by doing the right things than it is to retroactively punish them after they have had free reign for so long by sitting them. Now maybe he gets pissed off and salty about being benched but that wouldn't have been an issue if he was held to a higher standard from day 1.

I get that number 1 picks need to play but I think they gave him too much freedom too fast.

The difference is this is a new coach. This is also a short season with no realistic G league and a losing record. You had nothing to lose by giving Ant minutes to strut his stuff and see what your working with. The reason you bench him is because he refused to listen. You tell him drive more and jump shoot less, he doesn’t. You tell him to D up and follow a scheme, he doesn’t. You tell him to fight for 50-50 balls, he doesn’t. There is no shame in playing less minutes, (see James Wiseman,) there is however shame in defying your coach and getting a reputation for being a head case. Ant needs to calm down and listen more.

[Jedzz]

I just don’t know what he’s doing on the defensive end. I’m not sure if he doesn’t understand what they’re doing conceptually or he just doesn’t care and is lazy. He almost floats around not guarding anyone then will close out wildly, allowing the man to blow right by him.

Maybe he was thinking about 40 pt scores and how to engage that gear instead of what his defensive positioning should be? I saw some of what you did, what seemed like effort being put in on defense but he was just wildly over gunning his man and getting beat. I wouldn't say he was the only one on defense doing that, even saw Rubio getting a little out of control on D and his guy getting the shot off. Say Nowell get soft beat once merely allowing his guy to get to the wrong side and JP laid into that one. Others for sure just got fried by hot shooters that never hesitated at all. These OKC boys were lanky, quick and accurate. But that same burst Ant uses to get to the rim when he feels like it seemed to get him in trouble often on the softest of moves by the opponent and he ended up 5 feet long and not a chance to recover.

I didn't like how the coach had KAT getting double tagged in the paint starting second half where refs weren't calling anything and they just kept doing it. He could have quickly moved Kat outside and asked the Rook to go hard at that rim more and just start annihilating those lanky dudes from a running start. But less would be able to be there if Towns came outside. Which I think they finally did with Kat in the 4th. Not sure if Edwards was doing what they asked on offense or not.

[PharmD]

Ant's transition D is so bad every game.

[Medall21]

Ant's transition D is so bad every game.

Would be funny to see Pablo Laso or Sarunas Jasikevicius reaction after that...